Maison Baguès, « Fleur de Lys » Chandelier, France Circa 1900

Rare twelve-light chandelier in gilded bronze and cut crystal, designed with a composition of remarkable architectural lightness. The frame, formed by an interlacing of finely gilded volutes and counter-curves, is entirely adorned with a floral motif in faceted crystal, punctuated by rosettes, beaded garlands, and pendants of various sizes.

The overall design, evoking a monumental fleur-de-lis, attests to the decorative expertise that made Maison Baguès famous in the 19th century. The abundance and delicacy of the crystal elements produce a particularly spectacular interplay of transparency and light, enhanced by the presence of a large, faceted sphere suspended at the center of the lower section. The piece is lavishly adorned with cut crystal pendants of various shapes; pear-shaped, diamond-shaped, and faceted pendants enliven the structure with light effects of great delicacy. 

Through the virtuosity of its design, the richness of its ornamentation, and the quality of its crystal work, this chandelier perfectly illustrates the late 19th-century French taste for ceremonial lighting fixtures inspired by the decorative repertoire of the 18th century.

Biography :
Art light creator, Baguès was founded by Noël Baguès around 1840 in Auvergne. Specialized in liturgical bronzes, the company grew at the end of the 19th century and started to make lighting bronzes, thanks to the generalization of electricity. In the 1920s, Baguès created his own models in fine ironwork.